, 1887-11-17
wAsHINGToN's cHAPERoNs.

dow Some Lenders" of Society I'm the
Capital RePlenish Their Finances.
The wives and daughters Of new con-
gressmen and officers are frequently
thrown into society without any previous
preparation. From the quiet of a coun-
try home there is a terrible transition.
There are ladies here in Washington
whose husbands lave been army or navy
officers. They have spent years in So
ciety, and have held, and still hold, high
rank. The mysteries of form and usage
are familiar to them, but the death or
retirement of their husbands has re-
duced their finances below the figures of
their extravagant tastes. These ladies
now sustain their position in society by
leading the uninitiated through the mys-
FERROUS mazes. They teach the wives of
new senators and members from the
back districts the polite forms, and pilot
them safely through a winter in Wash
ington.
The relation they hold to the novice is
that of a superior, who condescends to
take the part of a friendly adviser or
chaperon. They are courted, followed
N paidl They are women who have
been bellies in society in the past, and
who dictate its forms now. They TO-
make a business of pleasure. They adj
wise their patrons what to wear, how to
furnish their houses, how to talk and
act, how to set their tables, how to re-
ceive callers and who to receive; when
to call, how to call and who to call on.
They tell them the difference between an
ordinary tea and a high tea; between a
dinner party and a luncheon. They rub
the dust off their dialect and teach them
polite forms of speech, and tell them
what to talk about. They lead them
around the circle and teach by example.
These chaperons are not known as such
except to those who employ them, and
they are the most courted of all society.
They are experts in Washington life.
In the morning, when they are not
circling the rounds of society, they act
the part of private conversationalists.
There are always a number of wealthy
ladies, who, on account of not yet know
ing the ways of society, or of Ill health,
or, perhaps, because they are In mourn
ing, are not in the social swim.
As conversationalists, these queens and
faototums Of society bring all the gossip
and goings on In society in a morning
call upon those wealthy victims of seclu-
sion. They tell them who held recep-
IlOnS laSI nlBnb anu VINO was tneret wnat
they wore, what they said, and what was
said about them. They relate the latest
private scandal; tell what different peo-
pie think of each other, and how each is
measured up by the whole of society.
They report how long Mr.. - talked
with Miss Millions. and repeat what $50
ciety" thought of it. They discuss the
engagements made, to be made, and
broken off. All the little bits of gossip,
small talk and scandal they carry with
exact memory as to all the interesting
details, and keep their secluded patrons
as well posted as if they were among the
most gay. They tighten up q melan-
choly morning.
Some Of the most fashionable women
who have long been the ''leaders" of 80
ciety earn in this way the means to keep
up their establishments and to maintain
themselves in fashionable luxury. The
wives and daughters Of some famous
men, now dead, are professional leaders
of society, and live by their profession
Philadelphia Telegraph.